Geranium plant named ‘TOSTC0563’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘TOSTC0563’, characterized by its semi-double type, dark reddish-orange colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with zonation, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium xhortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘TOSTC0563’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant botanically known as Pelargonium x hortorum and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘TOSTC0563’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inHendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the Netherlands during July 2014. The objective ofthe breeding program was the development of Geranium cultivars withsemi-double type flowers having attractive flower coloration, and avigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Geranium cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is Trend Orange ‘Gentred’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 19,134, characterized by its semi-double type, mediumscarlet-red colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with zonation,and a moderate to vigorous, upright-round, outwardly spreading growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Savannah Oh SoOrange ‘Duesaoran’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,144, characterized by itssemi-double type, orange-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliagewith zonation, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated cross-pollination during August 2015 in a controlledenvironment in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2015 in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the Netherlands and Arroyo Grande,Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to typewith all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘TOSTC0563’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, dark reddish-orange colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with zonation; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a flower color that is a lighter shade ofreddish-orange and has a less rounded growth habit. Plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having morepetals and fewer petaloids per flower and in having a slightly lightershade of green-colored foliage.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Shocking Orange ‘Pacshorg’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 22,043. However, in comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Pacshorg’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a dark reddish-orange flower        color than plants of ‘Pacshorg’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter        inflorescences than plants of ‘Pacshorg’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker colored leaf        zonation than plants of ‘Pacshorg’.

The new cultivar can also be compared to Fantasia Orange ‘TOSTD0188’,co-pending application. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘TOSTD0188’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have flowers with more red        coloration than plants of ‘TOSTD0188’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter colored leaf        zonation than plants of ‘TOSTD0188’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more petals per flower than        plants of ‘TOSTD0188’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘TOSTC0563’. The plants were approximately 3 months old and grown in4.5-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘TOSTC0563’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual umbel of‘TOSTC0563’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘TOSTC0563’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately3-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in4.5-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F.to 72° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting wasused. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium x hortorum ‘TOSTC0563’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Trend Orange ‘Gentred’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.            19,134.        -   Male parent.—Savannah Oh So Orange ‘Duesaoran’, U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 26,144.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 22.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of            foliage: Approximately 11.0 cm. Width: Approximately 25.0            cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 6.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            17D and colorless, transparent. Color of young and mature            stem: 146C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: Moderate. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem, blade            is primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape: Reniform. Margin:            Bicrenate, palmately lobed, slightly wavy. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 7.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B            with an overlay of NN137A on zonal area of approximately            outer two thirds of leaf, venation of 146C. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: 147B with venation of 146D. Color            of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137A with an            overlay of 139A on zonal area of approximately outer two            thirds of leaf, venation of 146C. Color of lower surface of            mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 6.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            17D and colorless, transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘TOSTC0563’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            12 to 14 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Umbel, semi-spherical. Positioned            above foliage. Quantity of fully open umbels per plant:            Approximately 2. Quantity of developing umbels per plant:            Approximately: 1. Fragrance: None detected. Length or            height: Approximately 6.0 cm. Width: Approximately 9.0 cm.            Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 13.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 13.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 17D and colorless,            transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Sepal            texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 17D and colorless,            transparent. Petal texture: Glabrous. Petal color: 44B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 4.7 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.1 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 7 to 8 petals and 2 to 3            irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Length of upper petals: Approximately 2.5 cm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 2.2 cm. Length of lower            petals: Approximately 2.2 cm. Width of lower petals:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface of upper petals when fully            open: 40A with venation of 46A at base. Color of lower            surface of upper petals when fully open: 40B with venation            of 71B at base. Color of upper surface of lower petals when            fully open: 40A. Color of lower surface of lower petals when            fully open: 40C to 40D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: 5-pointed star. Diameter: Approximately 2.1            cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5, fused at base.            Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acuminate. Length            of upper sepal: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of upper sepal:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of lower sepals: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width of lower sepals: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 17D and colorless,            transparent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146D tinted            with 187A at base.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to peduncle.            Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: 17D and            colorless, transparent. Color: 146D tinted with 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of mature stamens:            Approximately 8 to 10 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong.            Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 71B.            Filament length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Filament color:            NN155D with an overlay of 40A and 71A near anther. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 32A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Stigma shape: 5-branched. Stigma length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Stigma color: 185A. Style length: Approximately            3.0 mm. Style color: 185B. Ovary length: Approximately            5.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely pubescent. Ovary color: 145A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Geranium has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘TOSTC0563’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 